This is one of the most popular hikes in the Picos de Europa between two villages, Poncebos in Asturias and Caín in Leon. The route (one way) is 11 km but by car, the distance between the two villages is more than 100km. It was originally opened around 1916, and used to be the only way to reach these two villages in the winter.
Not an auspicious start. This was Neil’s first time driving the crazy narrow mountain roads full of turns and twists since we arrived.While it’s a lot of fun for the driver, it makes some passengers sick. About 10 minutes into the drive, Lara was nauseous enough to request a stop to upchuck. Luckily, there was a space to pull over.Poor Lara got herself together while the boys worked off some energy.Then we all piled back in to continue the drive in a more sedate manner.Found a nifty little parking spot on the side of the road. Up ahead is a hydroelectric power station powered by water brought through the mountains via an aqueduct.Walk from the car to the start of the hike.Finally getting close! You can see how narrow these mountain roads are based on the cars parked on the side.Amazing views looking up.And looking down.Finally, the start of the hike! Yay!Neil, the teacher, in action.People built homes into the caves – these are abandoned today.That bit of orange is Nolan exploring one of the abandoned homes.Semi-wild goats grazing. These are sometimes called the “Killer Goats of the Cares Gorge” as they can dislodge stones that fall onto people on the path. View of our path for a looooooong way ahead.More settlements across the valley.The aqueduct that brings water to the power station was tunnelled through the mountains and completed in 1925.In some places, the aqueduct is just in the open. Of course, the kids had to climb to check it out.A newer aqueduct was built between 1945-1950. The water is very cold.Daddy! An owl in the mountain!!Another view of the owl in the mountain.Someone lived here once, a long time ago.It’s a very long way down to the Rio Cares.Showing off Neil’s camera’s zoom capabilities.Conversations with the local inhabitants.Sharing the path with the locals.Platform to span the gap – the materials to build the platform were helicoptered in.Heading back the way we came.24.3 km for the loop.
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